More from Messy...

From Chapter 7: Little Graces - The Triumph of Tiny Living

"The power of goodness is found in the tiny. Since the beginning, God has chosen the tiny over the large: David over Goliath, Gideon and his three hundred soldiers over thousands of Midianites, Elijah over the prophets of Baal, one sheep over the ninety-nine sheep. Spirituality is about doing the tiny work of God, little acts, small responses to God's presence in our lives.
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Think what Jesus could have accomplished if he'd stayed on earth for twenty, thirty, or fifty more years. Wow, think what he could have done with all the technology available today!

Nope. Jesus showed up for a little while, did a few tiny miracles, said a few amazing words, and left.

But his few tiny acts changed the world forever. Tiny becomes huge when Jesus is involved." (emphasis added)

That was encouraging to read because I often get sucked into that "big = success = important = making a difference" thinking especially if I use the world and culture around me to measure value. As he goes on to say,

"...it is very easy to conclude that unless God is doing really big things through our lives, we're not spiritual. - Spiritual people are about tiny things, which is the fruit of their spirituality. The spiritual life is not a life of success; it is a life of faithfulness, and it's not easy."

So much of my frustration comes when I stop seeing the tiny things I do as acts of obedience and service to Him first. The dishes, the laundry, the diapers, the meals, the cleaning, the explaining, the teaching, the discipline, the appointments...in and of themselves feel small and mundane and often difficult. However they are viewed, collectively or individually, they are what He has put in front of me to do - gifted me with.

He accomplishes so much through this tiny living. When I follow His lead and trust Him, I am humbled, sharpened, pruned, strengthened, nourished, and set apart for Him. And He is lifted up - before my husband, before my kids, my friends and relations - He can show Himself faithful and loving, holy and true. If I can remember this - keep this perspective - live what I believe - He will give me great joy...no matter how tiny my living. He alone can take my tiny living and make it ripple into eternity.